The School Crossing Patrol (SCP) service celebrates its Diamond Jubilee in 2013, and patrols in Hounslow are receiving a special commemorative badge and certificate to mark this milestone.

The badge and certificate have been provided by Road Safety GB and are being distributed to SCPs to mark the 60th anniversary of the service.

Image from Road Safety GB

Cllr Colin Ellar, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for environment, said: “School crossing patrols have spent the last 60 years getting children safely to school, whatever the weather.

"We took over the service in 2000, and currently employ 24 patrols across the borough at places where it could be dangerous for children to cross the road.

“We are trying to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce pollution across the borough, so want more parents to leave the car at home, so the role of SCP’s has never been more important.”

The SCP service was officially created by the School Crossing Patrol Act in 1953 and the first official patrol started work in 1954.

While the uniform and sign have changed to meet modern standards – and patrols can now stop traffic to cross any pedestrian, adult or child - the role is essentially the same today as it was 60 years ago.

The idea for SCPs came in the late 1940s when two of the newly created road safety officers in the London Boroughs of Dagenham and Barking (Jock Brining and Dorothy Pummell) recognised a growing problem with the safety of child pedestrians given the increasing volume of traffic on roads.

At that time around 90 per cent of children walked to school unaccompanied and also played out on the streets. Children were advised to ask an adult to see them across busy roads, but Jock Brining had the idea of ‘official’ adults to help children on their way to school at points where traffic was at its worst.

Jock and Dorothy persuaded their councils to agree to the idea and went on to employ ‘active retired gentlemen’ as ‘traffic wardens’, who wore white coats and peaked hats – as worn by park keepers at the time.

Road Safety GB is a national road safety organisation that represents local government road safety teams across the UK. Road Safety GB supports road safety officers in fulfilling their statutory role - to reduce the number and severity of road accidents through education, training and publicity policies and programmes. For more information visit www.roadsafetygb.org.uk